Company will replace current antiquated taximeters in over 1,000 NYC taxicabs with TaxiOS by end of 2016, offering drivers a singular modernized platform to process rides

September 22, 2016 - Today Flywheel, the mobile platform revolutionizing the transportation industry with quick, safe and affordable rides, announces its smartphone meter, TaxiOS, has gained approval to operate in New York City. This marks the first time a company has entered NYC as a technology provider since 2004. As the very first software-based meter solution for NYC, TaxiOS will give cabs an edge over ridesharing competition, providing a much-needed upgrade in meter technology to streamline and modernize payment methods, navigation, dispatch, and soon, the outdated taxi entertainment system.

Despite the influx of ride-sharing apps, NYC’s taxi industry is still a force, currently boasting around 13,800 taxis city-wide—operating at 7x the ride flow of Uber and Lyft. Flywheel is powering existing NYC taxis with the technology to compete in the on-demand economy, providing drivers with more economic opportunity and riders with a safe, surge-free alternative.

With this approval, Flywheel is able to integrate technology features that today’s drivers and riders have come to expect. The company’s TaxiOS platform is the first multimodel meter for taxis introducing:

Software-based taxi meter

Automatic fare calculation including tolls, extras and more

App, cash and credit card payment options

Carpooling and fare split with multiple passengers

Street-hailing capabilities where riders simply street-hail a taxi and pay using Flywheel’s app

Email receipts from cab rides

TaxiOS is modernizing the taxi industry for passengers, while continuing to offer safe and regulated rides from drivers that know their city best. Alongside this, the platform also provides drivers with access to better schedule flexibility, including part-time hours and convenient taxi pickup locations.

“New York City is the heart of the taxi industry in the U.S., but it’s drivers and passengers have been left in the dark with outdated technology for quite some time. Now that TaxiOS has been approved for citywide operation, we’re giving NYC Yellow Cabs the tools needed to compete with rideshare giants. By providing drivers with a smartphone, we’re getting rid of the outdated, and frankly, annoying technology currently in cabs.”

Flywheel isn’t just giving taximeters a makeover—the company is set to revamp the backseat entertainment experience later this year. Its new system will give riders the choice to enjoy personalized content, social channels, and more.

Flywheel is now operating in seven cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, Sacramento, Portland and New York City.

About Flywheel:
Headquartered in Redwood City, Flywheel is a technology platform for the taxi industry that connects passengers with licensed, high-quality drivers. Flywheel’s TaxiOS replaces the antiquated meter, payments and dispatch technology with a single device. The Flywheel mobile app allows passengers to order taxi rides in real-time, track arrival via GPS and automatically pay their fare via their smartphone device.